Liam Kennedy

Amanda Staveley IS interested in making a £303million bid to buy Newcastle United from Mike Ashley, after a face-to-face meeting with Magpies chiefs has been reported.

According the Financial Times yesterday, Staveley "was due to meet Newcastle representatives on Tuesday, according to one person briefed on talks."

That comes after Reuters news outlet earlier claimed Staveley's PCP Capital Partners valued United at around $400million (£303.7million) and were "interested" in bidding to purchase the Magpies from Mike Ashley.

The FT report claims that Staveley, through PCP Capital Partners, is one of four interested bidders "according to people briefed on the process".

It goes on to state that owner Ashley, who confirmed the club was officially up for sale on Monday via a statement through St James Holding Limited, values the Newcastle between £300-400million, with a further £200million required to strengthen the squad.

Staveley was present at United's 1-1 draw with Liverpool

Any sale before Christmas - a timescale set by Ashley's lawyer Andrew Henderson yesterday - is said to be "a tall order".

Reuters claim that Staveley believes the club would need around £150million of investment in the playing budget, over the next two years.

Quotes an anonymous source, the report reads: "PCP Capital Partners, the investment firm run by British businesswoman Amanda Staveley, is interested in bidding around $400 million (£303.7 million) for Newcastle United.

"PCP, which has not yet put in an offer for Newcastle United, believes the club is worth around 300 million pounds with a further 150 million pounds needed to invest in players over the next two years, according to the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal is not public."

Four interested parties have signed non-disclosure agreements with the club, which is a legal contract preventing the sharing of confidential material or information with third parties.

Talk of Staveley's interest was stoked when she attended United's recent 1-1 Premier League draw with Liverpool, who she also fronted a failed bid to buy in recent years.

During that trip to St James's she conducted informal talks with club managing director Lee Charnley as well as Keith Bishop and Justin Barnes. She also had a meeting with manager Rafa Benitez.

Meanwhile, Inter Milan owner Erick Thohir has ruled out making a bid to buy United.